Socket's Plug-in Cards Support HP's New Jornada 680 Handheld PC; `Battery Friendly' Cards Add Ethernet and Bar Code Scanning to Windows CE-based Computer

Business Wire, March 17, 1999

NEWARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 1999--Socket Communications Inc. (OTC BB:SCKT and SCKTW; Pacific Stock Exchange:SOK), today announced that the Socket(R) Battery Friendly(TM) family of low power plug-in cards support Hewlett-Packard Company's (NYSE:HWP), HP Jornada 680 Handheld PC.

The recently announced portable computer from HP is powered by Microsoft's Windows CE operating system and features a 56Kbps modem, a roomy keyboard, a brilliantly lit color screen plus pocket versions of Microsoft's popular Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access software. Socket's plug-in cards can be inserted into the HP Jornada 680's PC Card slot.

Socket offers a variety of cards that support Ethernet connectivity and bar code scanning. The cards are now available through worldwide distribution and will be demonstrated at the CeBIT trade show in Hannover, Germany at HP's booth in Hall 1, Stand 7i2, and at HP's display within Microsoft's Windows CE Pavilion in Hall 2, Stand D02.

Socket's Low Power Ethernet Cards offer fast synchronization between an HP Jornada 680 Handheld PC and a desktop PC located anywhere on a local area network. Socket's Bar Code Wand Cards are integrated with a Welch Allyn bar code scanner wand to turn an HP Jornada 680 into a mobile data collection terminal.

Socket's Bar Code Laser Scanner Cards are integrated with a Symbol Technologies LS2104 or LS4004 handheld laser scanner gun for high performance bar code scanning. For OEMs, Socket offers the Collection I/O Card with custom cabling and Socket's ScanWizard "virtual keyboard" software for interfacing an HP Jornada 680 to virtually any serial data collection device such as a scanner or a mag stripe reader.

Socket's PC Cards are also compatible with other members of the HP Jornada family, including the Jornada 820 Handheld PC. Socket's CompactFlash CF cards can be used in the CompactFlash slot of the Jornada 420 palm-size PC and can also be mounted in a PC Card adapter and used in the PC Card slot of Jornada Handheld PCs.

"Socket's plug-in cards dramatically expand the capability of the HP Jornada 680 Handheld PC by taking full advantage of our support for standards-based connectivity," said Dennis Hamann, worldwide marketing manager for HP's Asia Pacific Personal Computer Division. "We are pleased that our ongoing relationship with Socket has resulted in such a broad range of productivity-enhancing options for our customers."

"The Jornada 680 Handheld PC reinforces HP's position as a mover and shaker in the Windows CE market and further validates our commitment to providing plug-in cards compatible with the entire HP Jornada family," said Peter Phillips, director of product marketing for Socket Communications. "We are excited to be working with a company as innovative as HP and we expect to introduce additional plug-in cards in the near future that will offer even more versatility to HP Jornada users."

Socket's plug-in cards are available through Socket's worldwide network of resellers. Socket also offers custom versions of these cards to OEMs. For details about Socket's products and a list of Socket's dealers, visit Socket's web site at www.socketcom.com or call Socket at 1-800-552-3300.

Socket Communications, Inc. develops and sells connectivity products for Windows CE-based computers. Socket's products include a family of Battery Friendly(TM) PC Card and CompactFlash CF Card adapters for Ethernet connectivity, serial communications, bar code scanning and mobile data collection. Socket's growing family of Battery Friendly I/O adapters includes the Low Power Ethernet Card, the Ruggedized Low Power Ethernet Card, the Bar Code Wand Card, the Bar Code Laser Scanner Card, the Serial I/O Card, the Ruggedized Serial I/O Card, the Dual Serial I/O Card, the Ruggedized Dual Serial I/O Card, the Collection I/O Card and the combination Ethernet/Serial Card.

Socket's products utilize the company's low power chip technology, making them ideal for battery-operated mobile computers. Information about Socket's complete range of products is available on the company's web site at www.socketcom.com.

Note to Editors: Socket and Battery Friendly are registered trademarks or trademarks of Socket Communications, Inc. CompactFlash and CF are trademarks of the CompactFlash Association. All other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.